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84% of Toronto Residents Say Liberals Should Stop Hydro One Sale

84% of Toronto Residents Say Liberals Should Stop Hydro One Sale

TORONTO, ONTARIO (Marketwired – April 16, 2016) – More than four-fifths of Toronto residents living in downtown, York and East York ridings want the provincial Liberals to stop any further sale of Hydro One, according to polling results.

“This poll shows a vast majority of people in this riding and in Kathleen Wynne’s backyard wanted the government to stop the sale of Hydro one from going any further – even before last week’s sell-off of a further 15 percent. This reflects what we’re hearing at doors – people are angry about the sell-off of Hydro One,” said Minerva Hui, spokesperson for the Keep Hydro Public Coalition.

“Today, we are launching a new local campaign focused on Liberal MPP Arthur Potts, who has supported the sale of Hydro One, despite the opposition of almost everyone in Beaches-East York.”

A packed house helped launch the campaign today at the Baron Byng Legion Hall on Coxwell Avenue, before heading out to canvass and leaflet door-to-door. Campaign materials remind constituents that 70 percent of Hydro One is still owned by the people of Ontario, and it’s not too late to Keep Hydro Public.

Leaflets, billboards, and newspaper ads call on Liberal MPP Arthur Potts to stand up for the people he represents and speak out now against Hydro privatization.

Across the province, the campaign links MPP votes on the Hydro sell-off at Queen’s Park and their role as locally elected representatives.

“We elect MPPs to represent us. Well, if my MPP is voting to sell Hydro, then he’s not listening to me or any of my neighbours,” said Alejandra Ruis Vargas, a Beaches-East York resident and member of ACORN, a partner organization in the Keep Hydro Public coalition.

The Environics poll of 727 ratepayers in downtown Toronto, York and East York found that 84 percent of people oppose any further sale of Hydro One shares, with 52 percent strongly opposed. Of those polled, 75 percent are concerned that privatization means already high electricity prices will go up further. The poll is considered accurate to within plus or minus 3.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

When the next provincial election happens, 64 percent of voters said that Hydro privatization will make them less likely to vote Liberal. This sentiment is shared by nearly two-thirds of people who voted Liberal in the last election.

“Arthur Potts, like Liberal MPPs across the province, better pay attention and start speaking up on behalf of their constituents, or voters will take out that anger in the next election,” said Fred Hahn, president of CUPE Ontario, a partner in the Keep Hydro Public campaign.

The Keep Hydro Public campaign is supported by more than 20 community, labour, environment, anti-poverty and student organizations.